Why The World Relies On ASML For Machines That Print Chips
Why Hacker News recommends it
Frequently recommended as a good, approachable overview of ASML and semiconductor equipment.
What it is
CNBC gets a tour of ASML's cleanrooms in the Netherlands to see how its roughly $200 million EUV lithography machines are built. It covers exploding molten tin, ultra-flat optics and why only one company can make these systems.
Recommended by 4 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2022 to 2024.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec tux1968 · 2022-04 · on “Why the World Relies on ASML for Machines That Print Chips [Video]”
The entire video is pretty fascinating, but this direct link to the timestamp where they explain how the EUV 13nm wavelength light is created, is particularly incredible: [this video]
Recommends photochemsyn · 2022-08 · on “Political Chips”
> "The most important decision was shifting to extreme ultraviolet lithography at a time when Intel thought it was much too expensive and difficult to implement; TSMC, backed by Apple’s commitment to buy the best chips it could make, committed to EUV in 2014, and delivered the first EUV-derived chips in 2019 for the iPhone. Those EUV machines are made by one company — ASML. They’re worth more than Intel too (and Intel is a customer)." CNBC toured ASML clean rooms in a very interesting video. IIRC, the only thing keeping ASML from exporting these machines to China is some EU/USA export control rule: [this video]
Recommends Cyph0n · 2022-08 · on “Italy, Intel close to $5B deal for chip factory”
All of the above. You need thousands of highly skilled engineers to operate an advanced fab. You need extremely advanced and expensive specialized equipment - look up ASML for a general idea of what this equipment does. You need a huge, purpose-built cleanroom that is many orders of magnitude “cleaner” than an operating room. You need a structure (and location) that has virtually zero vibration or noise. You need an constant, high-volume supply of a bunch of resources including water, power, and sand. And the list goes on. Edit: Good video on ASML and semiconductor fabrication equipment in general: [this video]
Recommends tim333 · 2024-02 · on “Japan bets $67B to become a global chip powerhouse once again”
'Why The World Relies On ASML For Machines That Print Chips' an 18 min CNBC piece is quite jolly [this video]